North Warwickshire Borough Council voted unanimously in support of a £25 million surf and wave park with a surf lagoon and outdoor swimming pool in Coleshill, Birmingham.
Emerge Surf Birmingham will feature a 5.4-acre surf lagoon, outdoor heated swimming pool, surf school, surf shop, and multi-purpose fitness studio.
In addition, there will be a perimeter track for Onewheel electric skateboards, a café and restaurant, physiotherapy and massage room, and children’s play area.
The attraction is estimated to create 100 full-time equivalent jobs, attract 250,000 visitors annually, and deliver an annual economic boost of between £18m and £21m to the region.
Steve Price, founder and CEO of Emerge Surf, said: “Our aim with Emerge Surf is to bring a slice of the ocean to Birmingham, creating a haven for landlocked surfers and those wanting to try the sport for the first time.”
Emerge Surf will be ‘haven for landlocked surfers’
“We’re excited to enter the next phase in our plan to deliver a wave park that will be a huge asset to the region and its already renowned visitor economy,” he added.
“It will provide a world-class experience for surfers of all levels, delivering a positive social impact while supporting mental and physical wellbeing.
“This is alongside creating new jobs, boosting tourism and elevating the region’s reputation as a sport and leisure destination.”
He also said that Emerge Surf is now focusing on finalising the funding structure and progressing on-site groundworks, which are scheduled to begin before the end of 2020.
Emerge Surf Birmingham set to open in 2022
Councillor David Wright, leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council, said: “We are all keen to see our economy bounce back from the COVID-19 outbreak and this is a major boost for our economy, particularly the very hard-pressed leisure and tourist sector.”
Emerge Surf Birmingham will be working in partnership with national governing body Surfing England to offer certificated surfing tuition, and with registered charity Surf Life Saving Great Britain to provide water safety courses.
The attraction is also teaming up with The Wave Project to give therapy through surfing to local children suffering with mental health issues.
Ben Powis, commercial and operations director at Surfing England, said Emerge Surf is “developing a facility that not only provides a high performance training and surfing environment, but also capitalises on the health and wellbeing benefits of surfing to deliver far reaching social impact”.
Elsewhere, a new retailtainment development called ‘The Lake’ in Chesterfield County is set to have a six-acre PerfectSwell surf park.
Emerge Surf Birmingham is currently scheduled to open in early 2022.
